Is Your Child Complaining of Knee Pain? Read on….

As a parent, seeing your child experience knee pain can be worrying, especially when it affects their ability to play sports or participate in activities they enjoy. If your child has been complaining of pain below the knee, particularly after physical activity, it may be due to a common condition known as Osgood-Schlatters. Here’s what you need to know about this condition and how physiotherapy can help get your child back to their active routine, pain-free.

 

What is Osgood-Schlatters?

Osgood-Schlatters is a condition that commonly affects growing children, particularly those who are involved in sports such as running, soccer, basketball, or any activity that involves jumping or sudden movements. The condition occurs when the tendon that connects the kneecap to the shinbone (tibial tuberosity) becomes irritated due to excessive stress, especially during periods of rapid growth.

This condition typically affects children between the ages of 10 and 15. While it’s not usually serious, Osgood-Schlatters can cause significant discomfort and may disrupt your child’s ability to participate in physical activities.

 

3 Common Signs and Symptoms of Osgood-Schlatters

1. Pain Below the Knee: Especially after activities like running, jumping, or climbing stairs. The pain can range from sharp to aching and is often worse after high-impact sports and may cause your child to limp after cessation of activity.
2. Swelling: A noticeable bump or swelling may develop just below the kneecap, at the site where the tendon attaches to the shinbone. The area may also be tender to the touch.
3. Difficulty with Activity: Your child may experience discomfort when bending or loading the knee, making it harder to participate in sports or physical tasks that involve movement, such as squatting or running. They might even start to avoid certain activities due to the pain and may develop a limp

 

How We Can Help

At Pure Physio, our team of expert physiotherapists can provide the personalized care your child needs to recover and get back to doing what they love.

 

Load Management

We understand that your child’s return to sports needs to be gradual to avoid overloading the knee. Our physiotherapists will create a tailored recovery plan that includes a gradual return to physical activities. This could involve reducing the intensity of training sessions or modifying game participation—such as skipping one session per week or playing a reduced portion of the game. We will carefully monitor their progress and adjust the plan based on their symptoms to ensure safe recovery.

 

 Pain Relief Techniques

We use various techniques to help manage your child’s knee pain and reduce swelling, including:

• Manual Therapy: Hands-on techniques that can ease tension and improve movement in the knee.
• Ice or Heat Therapy: These treatments can alleviate swelling and discomfort around the knee.
• Taping: Often beneficial at reducing knee pain.

 

Exercises

Strengthening the muscles around the knee, such as the quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves, is essential to relieve pressure on the kneecap and prevent future injuries. Our physiotherapists will guide your child through targeted strengthening exercises designed to support their knee joint and improve stability. We will also provide a home exercise program for your child to work on between appointments to keep them improving.

 

Ready to Help Your Child Move Comfortably Again?

Contact Pure Physio today to schedule an appointment. Let us help your child recover from knee pain and get back to enjoying their favourite activities with confidence and comfort!

About the Author

Fanaye Seifu — Senior Physiotherapist

Fanaye’s a go-to for sports rehab with experience treating premier Rugby and Rugby league teams in Auckland. She specialises in managing cervicogenic headaches and lower back pain. Since moving to Melbourne in 2021, she has expanded her skill set in post-operative rehab for knee and hip conditions, working across private practice and community settings.

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